Chez Sovan

Never had Cambodian food. I love the southeast Asian flavors. Fish sauce and coconut milk. Steamed fish cake and eggplant dishes were delicious. Great execution in homestyle cooking. Nice service. Luckily work nearby, so I plan to go back soon. Looks like you can park in the open lot across the street when you turn in from Oakland Road.

Amazing hole in the wall. Have been going here for years for lunch. Great amok. Excellent fish stew. The owner is friendly and funny. He has maintained the quality of his food over so many years. Wish it was open nights and weekends. Do not be fooled by the exterior. Go inside and enjoy the food. Go early for lunch or you will have to wait a bit.

They are famous for their Amok. Often run out before they close. It is awesome. The chicken sticks are great. The string beans are great. The curry is a nice sweet variety. Been coming here for years. Awesome place for lunch. Limited hours, during the week and for lunch only. Friendly and funny owner.

Anyone who puts less than 5 stars is out of their mind. I have been coming here since I was a kid, and Bryan still remembers and greats me with a hug even if it has been years since we've seen each other. The quality of food and richness of the recipes from Bryan's mother are incomparable, and every dish tastes just as good as when I had it 20+ years ago. Yes the location and ambiance aren't fine dining, but it's part of the charm that makes chez sovan CHEZ SOVAN. Come here without intentions, have Bryan make you whatever he wants and you will be happy with it all.

Always great food. We always ask the waiter to just pick a selection of food for us and it's always delicious. One of my favorite places for lunch. Be sure to get there early, they fill up fast and have a short schedule.

Delicious tasty food! Amok is a mustry

Chez Sovan is a hole-in-wall Cambodian restaurant, and is only open M-F, 11am to 1:45pm. Went here with a coworker not too long ago. Server and owner are very friendly. We got three dishes, amok trey, chicken curry, and ginger fish. Amok trey is my favorite Cambodian dish! It has a very unique taste; it's fishy from the catfish, with a strong curry taste. Chicken curry wasn't spicy as most Thai or Indian curry dishes are, but the taste of coconut milk was there. Ginger fish was something my coworker and I've never had before, it's a very unique dish! Fried fish with ground chicken and fish sauce.

Been going here for over two decades and the quality is just as consistent as the first time I came here. Amazing Cambodian food - parking can be a bit tight but usually OK if you get there early for lunch (oh and the place is only open for lunch).

This place transports you to another time and place for a brief moment. The atmosphere is warm and communal. The staff is fantastic. Food was tasty. Excited to make this a regular stop for us.

As always. This place never disappoint my hungriness. The wait is long but it's totally worth it. Food price range is average $10 each but I really don't care. That's how good the food is. And the owner is the server too. He's the nicest and funniest guy! Makes me laugh all the time. Dont judge it by its ghetto cover. You will be amazed. LOL! The food is so good I keep wanting to write more review everytime I come home after eating there.

Very delicious Cambodian food, reminded me of what I used to have in Cambodia! We ordered for take-out during Covid-19, they've reduced the menu to limited version only, so we got Chicken kebab (Sach Ang in Cambodian language), chicken curry and ginger fish (Trei jean juon). Everything was very tasty!

Delicious comfort food. We got the amok and chicken curry. Bryan is great. He belted out some Beatles tunes for us and our little one.

Yum as always! Great Cambodian food played straight-up ... no extraneous ingredients or presentation just food as your favorite Cambodian mom would make!

Food great, but service was impeccable! LOVED the Amok fish, we have something very similar in Malaysia. Got a free curry, and server/chef was so friendly, so charming, and took amazing care of us. Really delightful place, would definitely go again!

Really great food. The Amok and chicken curry are particularly delicious, but really everything is good. The owner is also awesome and consistently hilarious. I wish they were open all day, but alas I have to find time to get there when I can.

Open for weekday lunch. I got the cabbage salad with meat, ground peanuts and various greens and spices. A bright tasty dressing. I give it 5 out of 5. My wife got ginger fish, lightly fried with no breading. We also got 2 meat kebabs. Service exceptionally friendly and welcoming.

Finally got to try this spot after years of having it bookmarked due to the very limited days and hours of operation. Came in on a Fri at 11:45 am and we were the first ones. Small/medium sized restaurant with tables of all sizes. I don't think they have AC/heater. It is literally a hole in the wall. The place got completely packed by 12:30 pm. It's a 2 person show, but they are efficient and the food comes out relatively quickly. Funny guy. Not much service after you receive your food though, especially once they get busy. Pay at the register rather than table after eating. Parking is free and wasn't difficult in the residential area nearby Small, simple menu. We ordered 2 beef kabob skewers $5 each, amok $18.50, yellow curry with chicken $18.50, ginger fish $18.50, stir fried eggplant with tofu $18.50, large rice $5. Every dish was fantastic. Great flavors, not too salty or greasy. Just wish the dishes were spicy. Skewers were tasty, just a bit pricey for the portion. They didn't have pork available at the time. Amok was good, but not mind blowing. The ginger fish was our favorite. Crispy yet soft and flavorful. Yellow curry was good, but seemed more like a soup since the curry was so watery. Generous amount of chicken and other ingredients. The eggplant was our least favorite because it was super sweet, but that's our personal preference. Generous portion though Overall, quality tasty food, reasonable prices, and good portions. I would go back, but since the menu is so small (it changes), I won't be rushing back

cozy hole in the wall serving up authentic Cambodian fare. The owner Brian is affable and hospitable. Enjoy!

This is a gem of a place. Consistently my go-to place for Fish Amok and Kebabs. Delicious. Ginger fish as well. Owner + staff are lovely, funny people. Always a comforting, inexpensive, and quick meal.

2/19/2025 @ 11:45am, very sociable owner. Would have liked more for the price. Food flavors are tasty. On the street parking makes it difficult to for parking.

Delicious authentic food, genuinely kind service from the owner, no frills.

My uncle has been a customer of this restaurant since 38 years and highly recommended this place to us for our lunch . We ordered the cabbage salad sans tofu , we were blown away by the salad dressing , the dressing was delicious and an explosion of herb flavors , had right amount of tanginess and sweetness. The slaw was crisp and fresh . Ordered eggplant with tofu and the Sovan sauce was so yummy. Another family member ordered chicken kabab and chicken stir fried rice noodles, both of which were cooked to perfection.The portions are very generous. My iced coffee with condensed milk had sweet notes to it, and spot on to beat the summer heat. Food was very light and not too oily . All the dishes had very fresh herbs. It was worth the 20 min drive to this restaurant. Ambience was very South East Asian. Bryan, the owner and host was very friendly and helped us with our vegetarian food options . He and his wife are very customer service oriented. The only negative is the lack of parking in the neighborhood. Best to Uber/carpool to this place. Highly recommend this restaurant for a soothing lunch experience.

Everything about this place is absolutely great! Well I guess, I could wish for longer hours but it's not a deal breaker. This is definitely a hole in the wall joint only open for 2-3hrs every weekday for lunch. I've already almost had everything on the menu by my second visit, and I have to say everything I've had is good. Three dishes stand out to me more than the rest, the Amok, grilled ginger fish, and stir fry noodles. Personally, I've never had anything like the Amok and after having it here, I've been missing out. Grilled ginger fish is easily the best thing they serve here, a must order every time. The stir fry noodles remind me very much of pad thai and I quite like it, especially the noodle texture. One other game changing tip, you must ask for fish sauce + chili (it's def spicy). Huuuuge game changer. The owner is extremely polite and energetic with every customer. Makes the dining experience that much better, he has also hooked it up with some extra curry when we asked to box up our leftovers! Just a small gesture, but something I always appreciate and remember.

I was one of the first people in this morning and Brian greeted me right away and as personably as an old friend! The Amok with the side of (delicious!) rice was just the protein/carb combo I needed for the big bike ride I was planning today. Well I guess it did the trick as I did 75 miles from downtown to Walnut Creek!! The flavors in the Amok were so refreshing and the fish was as fresh as you could hope for and not one second over-cooked. Should be Michelin recommended!!

Very generic Cambodian restaurant. Every dishes are very good. Owner is very polite and friendly. They only open for weekdays lunch and close on weekends. Highly recommend.

I want to visit Chez Sovan again and again with my family and my friends! Food/Drinks: Amok, Chicken Curry, Cambodian Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk • Amok - Although the basa fish was not served in a banana leaf like I was expecting (perhaps they may be expensive!), it being in its sauce made me excited to try it! A part of my first meal of the day, my initial bite of it pleasantly shocked my taste buds—steamed, melt-in-your-mouth fish with a sweet and savory flavor. We even ended up taking our little bit of leftover sauce home to eat with rice! • Chicken Curry - This bright orange curry with the colors of the chicken, potatoes, and carrots peaking through was a sight to behold that helped wake me up! It had a flavorful, comforting taste with spices that warmed my body. We took our leftovers home and even were given extra to go with it! • Cambodian Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk - Served with a spoon of condensed milk to mix the coffee with, I was glad to have another refreshment besides water! It had a balanced flavor with the bitter coffee and the condensed milk for sweetness. I just wish I had a bigger serving! • We were also offered a variety of candy for dessert! Service/Ambiance: Feels like a home and a close community • Bryan welcomed us in and immediately we felt his amazing aura—funny, kind, and like a cool uncle. He recommended dishes to us and throughout our lunch he made us laugh and made sure we were taken care of. It felt like him and his family welcomed us with open arms and served us a home-cooked meal! • Numerous customers came in and made themselves comfortable—conversing with Bryan and their usuals being known by him, walking around, sitting close to the kitchen; we could tell that they were regulars! There were also customers whose older family members recommended Chez Sovan to them—of course, Bryan remembered who they were when they were brought up in conversation. And, like us, there were first-time customers who have seen and heard positive reviews of the restaurant and are now a part of the family—it is now our turn to pass on the torch! Parking: Somewhat difficult to find parking • We parked on Madera Avenue, a street in the bordering neighborhood, which Chez Sovan is at a corner of. There is a small parking lot close to the restaurant with limited spaces; it was full when we arrived there on a Thursday right before opening time at 11 a.m.

Total hole in the wall. The kind of place you have to seek out but totally worth it. Authentic Cambodian food from a family that has been serving food here since 1987. The Amok and ginger fish were delicious. Highly recommend, only open for lunch, there is a parking lot across the street.

Very tasty and well presented meals. Enough quantity and delicious at a good price. Staff people are so nice and helpful. I plan on going back soon.

I really liked the place. We got the amok, beef green been, and chicken yellow curry. All were really juicy and tasty.

Tim

Finally got to try this spot after years of having it bookmarked due to the very limited days and hours of operation. Came in on a Fri at 11:45 am and we were the first ones. Small/medium sized restaurant with tables of all sizes. I don't think they have AC/heater. It is literally a hole in the wall. The place got completely packed by 12:30 pm. It's a 2 person show, but they are efficient and the food comes out relatively quickly. Funny guy. Not much service after you receive your food though, especially once they get busy. Pay at the register rather than table after eating. Parking is free and wasn't difficult in the residential area nearby Small, simple menu. We ordered 2 beef kabob skewers $5 each, amok $18.50, yellow curry with chicken $18.50, ginger fish $18.50, stir fried eggplant with tofu $18.50, large rice $5. Every dish was fantastic. Great flavors, not too salty or greasy. Just wish the dishes were spicy. Skewers were tasty, just a bit pricey for the portion. They didn't have pork available at the time. Amok was good, but not mind blowing. The ginger fish was our favorite. Crispy yet soft and flavorful. Yellow curry was good, but seemed more like a soup since the curry was so watery. Generous amount of chicken and other ingredients. The eggplant was our least favorite because it was super sweet, but that's our personal preference. Generous portion though Overall, quality tasty food, reasonable prices, and good portions. I would go back, but since the menu is so small (it changes), I won't be rushing back

Jayden “Uehara” Sisang

This is a gem of a place. Consistently my go-to place for Fish Amok and Kebabs. Delicious. Ginger fish as well. Owner + staff are lovely, funny people. Always a comforting, inexpensive, and quick meal.

Charles S

Delicious authentic food, genuinely kind service from the owner, no frills.

Vincent Tang

2/19/2025 @ 11:45am, very sociable owner. Would have liked more for the price. Food flavors are tasty. On the street parking makes it difficult to for parking.

Poonam Bhat

My uncle has been a customer of this restaurant since 38 years and highly recommended this place to us for our lunch . We ordered the cabbage salad sans tofu , we were blown away by the salad dressing , the dressing was delicious and an explosion of herb flavors , had right amount of tanginess and sweetness. The slaw was crisp and fresh . Ordered eggplant with tofu and the Sovan sauce was so yummy. Another family member ordered chicken kabab and chicken stir fried rice noodles, both of which were cooked to perfection.The portions are very generous. My iced coffee with condensed milk had sweet notes to it, and spot on to beat the summer heat. Food was very light and not too oily . All the dishes had very fresh herbs. It was worth the 20 min drive to this restaurant. Ambience was very South East Asian. Bryan, the owner and host was very friendly and helped us with our vegetarian food options . He and his wife are very customer service oriented. The only negative is the lack of parking in the neighborhood. Best to Uber/carpool to this place. Highly recommend this restaurant for a soothing lunch experience.

Clement

Everything about this place is absolutely great! Well I guess, I could wish for longer hours but it's not a deal breaker. This is definitely a hole in the wall joint only open for 2-3hrs every weekday for lunch. I've already almost had everything on the menu by my second visit, and I have to say everything I've had is good. Three dishes stand out to me more than the rest, the Amok, grilled ginger fish, and stir fry noodles. Personally, I've never had anything like the Amok and after having it here, I've been missing out. Grilled ginger fish is easily the best thing they serve here, a must order every time. The stir fry noodles remind me very much of pad thai and I quite like it, especially the noodle texture. One other game changing tip, you must ask for fish sauce + chili (it's def spicy). Huuuuge game changer. The owner is extremely polite and energetic with every customer. Makes the dining experience that much better, he has also hooked it up with some extra curry when we asked to box up our leftovers! Just a small gesture, but something I always appreciate and remember.

Mikaela Gutierrez

I want to visit Chez Sovan again and again with my family and my friends! Food/Drinks: Amok, Chicken Curry, Cambodian Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk • Amok - Although the basa fish was not served in a banana leaf like I was expecting (perhaps they may be expensive!), it being in its sauce made me excited to try it! A part of my first meal of the day, my initial bite of it pleasantly shocked my taste buds—steamed, melt-in-your-mouth fish with a sweet and savory flavor. We even ended up taking our little bit of leftover sauce home to eat with rice! • Chicken Curry - This bright orange curry with the colors of the chicken, potatoes, and carrots peaking through was a sight to behold that helped wake me up! It had a flavorful, comforting taste with spices that warmed my body. We took our leftovers home and even were given extra to go with it! • Cambodian Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk - Served with a spoon of condensed milk to mix the coffee with, I was glad to have another refreshment besides water! It had a balanced flavor with the bitter coffee and the condensed milk for sweetness. I just wish I had a bigger serving! • We were also offered a variety of candy for dessert! Service/Ambiance: Feels like a home and a close community • Bryan welcomed us in and immediately we felt his amazing aura—funny, kind, and like a cool uncle. He recommended dishes to us and throughout our lunch he made us laugh and made sure we were taken care of. It felt like him and his family welcomed us with open arms and served us a home-cooked meal! • Numerous customers came in and made themselves comfortable—conversing with Bryan and their usuals being known by him, walking around, sitting close to the kitchen; we could tell that they were regulars! There were also customers whose older family members recommended Chez Sovan to them—of course, Bryan remembered who they were when they were brought up in conversation. And, like us, there were first-time customers who have seen and heard positive reviews of the restaurant and are now a part of the family—it is now our turn to pass on the torch! Parking: Somewhat difficult to find parking • We parked on Madera Avenue, a street in the bordering neighborhood, which Chez Sovan is at a corner of. There is a small parking lot close to the restaurant with limited spaces; it was full when we arrived there on a Thursday right before opening time at 11 a.m.

Tibor

I was one of the first people in this morning and Brian greeted me right away and as personably as an old friend! The Amok with the side of (delicious!) rice was just the protein/carb combo I needed for the big bike ride I was planning today. Well I guess it did the trick as I did 75 miles from downtown to Walnut Creek!! The flavors in the Amok were so refreshing and the fish was as fresh as you could hope for and not one second over-cooked. Should be Michelin recommended!!

Traveler

Very generic Cambodian restaurant. Every dishes are very good. Owner is very polite and friendly. They only open for weekdays lunch and close on weekends. Highly recommend.

Baxter Smith

Total hole in the wall. The kind of place you have to seek out but totally worth it. Authentic Cambodian food from a family that has been serving food here since 1987. The Amok and ginger fish were delicious. Highly recommend, only open for lunch, there is a parking lot across the street.

E-san

Very tasty and well presented meals. Enough quantity and delicious at a good price. Staff people are so nice and helpful. I plan on going back soon.

Bubblyfishy

I really liked the place. We got the amok, beef green been, and chicken yellow curry. All were really juicy and tasty.

George Shiffler

Yum as always! Great Cambodian food played straight-up ... no extraneous ingredients or presentation just food as your favorite Cambodian mom would make!

Absolutely 1000% LOVE the food. A tasty treat. No-nonsense, simple but delectable dishes. My favorites were the fried ginger fish, and beef curry. My goal is, to eat here once a month. I had no idea this restaurant has been around since 1987. That blew my mind that I'd grown up in this city, and have been missing out all these years.

Don’t let the outside of this little gem fool you - the food inside is beyond stellar and the owner is an absolute hoot. Been coming here for over a decade and am so glad it continues to serve its amazing food. Get there early before the most delicious dishes sell out!! Get yourself a skewer (or three), Amok (a delightful soul hug of a fish dish), and anything else that strikes your fancy. Can’t go wrong with anything on this menu!!

A modest little spot that punches well above its weight. The Fish Amok, Cambodia’s beloved steamed fish curry cooked in coconut milk and aromatic spices — is light, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. You can tell it’s made with care and pride. The atmosphere is casual and the service friendly.

Absolute hidden gem. From the outside this place looks a bit sketchy, and I have driven by it for years and never gone in. I can’t believe i have debrief myself of this amazing food for so long! The flavors of the food are insane. So fresh and absolute harmony in your mouth. I am still thinking about the dressing on the cabbage salad days later. The fish amok is a must have. The lemongrass flavor pairs so well with the fish. The pan fried noodles were ok, but not my favorite. Felt like it needed a bit more spice or lime. I cannot wait to go back and try more dishes!! If you have been driving by this place thinking you should check it out—DO IT. your tummy will be so happy!

What a great spot! Our daughter loves this place so we were excited to try it out. We came as a party of 6 and the service was helpful , fun and friendly. We had the cabbage salad, beef, skewers, ginger fish, curry and rice. The food is very fresh and homemade. The humble cabbage salad was a favorite and the ginger fish was excellent. We’ll be back.

The place is authentic. Being asian, I still get surprised with the different flavours you can experience. Owner, Brian, knows how to take care of his customers. Most tables were asking for their usual and he delivers. I think this is what completes the experience. More success to this place 👍🏼

Lindsay Franušić

Absolute hidden gem. From the outside this place looks a bit sketchy, and I have driven by it for years and never gone in. I can’t believe i have debrief myself of this amazing food for so long! The flavors of the food are insane. So fresh and absolute harmony in your mouth. I am still thinking about the dressing on the cabbage salad days later. The fish amok is a must have. The lemongrass flavor pairs so well with the fish. The pan fried noodles were ok, but not my favorite. Felt like it needed a bit more spice or lime. I cannot wait to go back and try more dishes!! If you have been driving by this place thinking you should check it out—DO IT. your tummy will be so happy!

Vin Paunan

The place is authentic. Being asian, I still get surprised with the different flavours you can experience. Owner, Brian, knows how to take care of his customers. Most tables were asking for their usual and he delivers. I think this is what completes the experience. More success to this place 👍🏼

Joan Lopez

What a great spot! Our daughter loves this place so we were excited to try it out. We came as a party of 6 and the service was helpful , fun and friendly. We had the cabbage salad, beef, skewers, ginger fish, curry and rice. The food is very fresh and homemade. The humble cabbage salad was a favorite and the ginger fish was excellent. We’ll be back.

Issa C

Absolutely 1000% LOVE the food. A tasty treat. No-nonsense, simple but delectable dishes. My favorites were the fried ginger fish, and beef curry. My goal is, to eat here once a month. I had no idea this restaurant has been around since 1987. That blew my mind that I'd grown up in this city, and have been missing out all these years.

Madeleine Ong

Don’t let the outside of this little gem fool you - the food inside is beyond stellar and the owner is an absolute hoot. Been coming here for over a decade and am so glad it continues to serve its amazing food. Get there early before the most delicious dishes sell out!! Get yourself a skewer (or three), Amok (a delightful soul hug of a fish dish), and anything else that strikes your fancy. Can’t go wrong with anything on this menu!!

Stephanie Foo

Food great, but service was impeccable! LOVED the Amok fish, we have something very similar in Malaysia. Got a free curry, and server/chef was so friendly, so charming, and took amazing care of us. Really delightful place, would definitely go again!

My review is base on a take out order. Ordered amok since all the fellow yelpers suggested it, it was pretty good and flavorful but not my cup of tea. I also ordered the stir fried noodles with beef. It's really good! Similar to a pad Thai. Next time I'll be sure to try their curry; someone in the restaurant ordered it and it looked/smelled so good! The owner was very nice also!

We had amok and yellow curry with tofu. Food and service were great. The restaurant is open only for few hours in weekdays.

I love the food at this Chez Sovan. We had been beef kebabs, harmok, ginger fish, and stir fried green beans. Everything was delicious. The only complaint is that the food is a little bit pricey which decided the four stars instead of five review.

Tried the curry and fish Amok. Lots of fish options. Quite tasty and flavorful. Will have to try the satay next time. A little on the pricey side. Gets busy, but overall fast and efficient service.

Friendly ppl, good service. Food is too sweet for me! 😂

NilaTheCat Y

Friendly ppl, good service. Food is too sweet for me! 😂